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For those who might not know, visitors to Blount County pay a 4 percent hotel/motel/campground tax which is added to their bills. That local tax is designated for tourism promotion in Blount County. It is lower than what visitors would pay in some other area counties.

Here is how the revenue is divided: 50 percent goes for promotion of tourism, 37.5 percent goes to the Blount County general fund and 12.5 percent is used for maintenance and upkeep of the visitor center.

A small percentage of that has been set aside in a rainy day fund over a period of years. The Smoky Mountain Convention and Visitors Bureau Board and the Blount County Financial Management Committee have recommended that this $100,000 be applied toward the $1.4 million purchase of a 10-acre tract adjoining the Townsend Visitors Center. The money would provide a two-year option toward purchase of the property.

The Blount County Commission is scheduled to vote on the matter Thursday night.

All of this money would come from tax visitors have paid, not property tax.

The property is critical to the continuation of the spring and fall festivals which the bureau holds in Townsend. These two festivals create an estimated 7,600 visitor room nights in the area and a $500,000 impact annually.

So far, the festivals have succeeded because the property owners, John and Joe Myers, have been amenable for visitors to park in these fields. However, the property is for sale and could be developed by businesses.

Without this parking area, it would be impractical to continue the two festivals. Under the present operation, shuttles operate between the places of business in the Townsend area, alleviating some of the traffic which would be on the highway during the festivals.

It is entirely possible that a grant may be obtained for part of the cost because the festivals and the center stress heritage and cultural tourism.

Executive Vice President Herb Handly expects to sit down with interested community members to plan a strategy to help pay for the much-needed property.

In addition to cabins, motels, restaurants and other retail businesses, the festivals have been major fund-raisers for most of the churches in Tuckaleechee Cove. The center also hosts crafts people throughout the year.

This is not an effort to expand the visitor center as such. It is aimed at being able to continue the present operation of the spring and fall festivals.

It is our view that the land should never be turned into an asphalt parking lot but rather that it be kept  more like an open pasture. Excellent parking areas are often maintained by establishing a thin rock base and allowing Bermuda grass to cover the surface. Such a parking area there would not destroy the beautiful view of the Smokies from the visitors center.

We think this is an opportunity the county cannot afford to miss. Knowing the past success of the Visitors Bureau and Herb Handly we are confident they will meet the challenge of raising the remaining money in the days ahead. With their effort, our tourism has grown 6 percent annually over the past decade.

Our voice on festival parking